Doing a networking seminar: what to cover?

[JonnyStarks]

I work at Staples and another and I associate have been chosen to do a networking seminar (like those ones at Home Depot about how to stucco your tub) and I've got some ideas but I'd like some more input.

We don't have a highspeed internet connection at the store but we figure we'll still use a wireless router with 2 desktops hooked up wired and one wireless laptop...basically show the installation, the software setup, show some file transfering (maybe some games).

Beyond that and some basic terminology (hubs, switches, routers, 10/100/1000Mbps) we haven't got a whole lot.

Is there anything else that we should cover as far as basic networking goes?

Any input is welcome!

 

[AFB]

* 8 bits=1 byte
*Basic TCP/IP terminology
*WEP!!
*Touch on MAC addresses(They exist)

 

[owensdj]

I'd talk about the TCP/IP protocol. Explain the basics of addressing, subnets, subnet masks, DHCP servers(such as in the router) & clients, and NAT with private & public IP addresses.

 

[JonnyStarks]

Originally posted by: owensdj
I'd talk about the TCP/IP protocol. Explain the basics of addressing, subnets, subnet masks, DHCP servers(such as in the router) & clients, and NAT with private & public IP addresses.

Keep in mind that the bulk of the customers right now who come in to buy networking stuff mainly want to share their internet connection, and that's it. Some want file sharing, and a good percentage want to share their printer.

Granted, I'm no networking guru myself, but a lot of that stuff would just go directly over their head and make things seem complicated.

 

[cmetz]

JonnyStarks, I'd suggest that what you do is simply a demo / walk-through how-to of how to configure a wired SOHO router, and then how to configure a wireless SOHO router, from undoing the shrink wrap to finish. That's what IMO would most benefit your customers, walking them through all the steps of what they're most likely to want to do.

 

[Boscoh]

Agreed with cmetz.

Also, I'd explain to them what WEP and WPA are. Dont get too technical. An explanation along the lines of this should be sufficient for most folks to comprehend: "with wireless, someone sitting outside your home can get into your computer and destroy everything on it or view it for their own use, its almost like listening to someone's cordless phone conversation with a baby monitor. A technology called WEP can help prevent this from happening by requiring your computer to know a password before it can connect to the wireless. WPA is a replacement technology for WEP and is substantially better. If you have WPA you should use it instead of WEP, but if you dont, you should use WEP."

You might also consider printing up handouts with a step-by-step guide to enabling WEP or WPA, detailing the process on the wireless products you sell in your store, as well as on Windows XP. You can always just tell them to refer to the manual of their product for information on how to do it, or just print up a page with some links.

 

[JonnyStarks]

Thats excellent, this is great stuff, thanks guys.